Nell: I’m beginning to think Mutley is right.
Me: He usually is. About what?
Nell: Flamingos. Annoying creatures and such a vulgar shade of pink.
Me: I don’t think I know any.
Nell: So Valerie and I were having a quick cappuccino and a croissant down by the quay.
Me: Do I know Valerie?
Nell: She is a French bulldog and owns patisseries all over the place.
Me: Oh, that Valerie. How do you know her?
Nell: From my time as an exchange student in Paris. We bonded over Sartre.
Me: Why is she here?
Nell: I thought she would make an excellent judge for our cake tasting panel.
Me: I see.
Nell: Anyway, we were happily chatting.
Me: In French?
Nell: Mais certainement. Where was I?
Me: Talking French and eating forbidden food.
Nell: I’ll ignore that. I look over the estuary and what do I see?
Me: Boats?
Nell: No. A flamingo. Standing on one leg.
Me: No?
Nell: Who stands on one leg in the middle of an estuary?
Me: I hope the tide was out.
Nell: Of course it was. But that’s not all. It was chatting away to the Beefies and eating a takeaway.
Me: Indian, or Chinese?
Nell: Fish and chips.
Me: Well, it’s in the right place for fish.
Nell: That is not the point. The flamingo is obviously in cahoots with the Beefies. It all makes sense.
Me: Oh. Do you think it was one of those hostile high flying flamingos from the city?
Nell: Of course. We need to tell Mutley.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
